“If you are engaging in a sexual activity that you would not have otherwise engaged in if it weren’t for the exchange of something valuable, you are engaging in prostitution.

“I’ve seen where some girls do this and they think, ‘well, it’s just a boyfriend and he buys me things and he’s an older man.”

At some point these women become psychologically aware that they have become prostitutes, Bates said. Then it’s really easy for it to degrade into an addiction and before they realize it’s happening, they’re on the streets.

He told of a young woman named Libby Diaz who was murdered while taking part in prostitution.

Bates said she had been in the Air Force and thought she had everything together until she met her pimp Mario Diaz (no relation).

“Before she knew it, she was turning $20 tricks where she justified prostitution initially because they were like $300, $400, $500 tricks.”

Bates said his goal is to bring awareness when he records prostitutes and their customers for his video website JohnTV.

“I let my images and videos do all of my talking,” he said.

“People say there’s no way a 12-year-old can be prostituted; there’s no way this happens in Oklahoma City,” he said. “Then they see my videos and realize this happens every day.”

Bates said by redefining prostitution as human trafficking, the subject is being taken more seriously.

He said one of the biggest obstacles when dealing with college-age adults is they have very liberal minds. Many college students believe prostitution should be legalized because they never see the ugly face of prostitution (that is) shown on JohnTV.

“All they see is the movie ‘Pretty Woman’ … and HBOs ‘Bunny Ranch’ and stuff like that,” he said. “They don’t see any other side.” Basey said college students can make a difference and help the women trapped in human trafficking’s web.

“I would love to see a student movement happen because that will promote awareness, students becoming involved and knowing what to look for,’” she said.

Basey talked about one of their projects near Robinson Avenue in central and south Oklahoma City. This, he said, is where many prostitutes walk the streets.

“We have bought a home in the neighborhood that houses eight trained staff people,” Basey said.

“We do block parties. We get to know the neighbors. We mow yards, pick up trash. We do this to create a connection.

“Then when people see a 12-year-old walking the street, instead of them not doing anything, they call us,” Basey said.